"Iron plate of a deep purple black color of great richness. The oval plate formed as 42 petals of a chrysanthemum bloom, with a leaf of the plant folded over the left and right sides. The right leaf showing the face and the left leaf showing the backside. Of katana size (see below). It is interesting to note that this tsuba is very "heavy" and dense when compared to others of its size and form. It may contain meteoric iron.

It is signed on the face: 'JOSHU JU' (Hitachi Province) on the right side of the seppa-dai, and 'SAOTOME IESADA' on the left side.

The kozuka ana is filled with a shakudo plug." (Haynes)

"There was more than one Saotome Iesada (see H 01803.0). This would seem to be the work of the "first" master of that name, ca. 1550. There is a dated example signed by Iesada of Tensho 5, August, which is 1577. This example would seem to fly in the face of what I have said for the entry of this name, as this example IS signed and certainly is of the date mentioned above. All of this adds to the revival of our research concerning this artist." (Haynes)

8.2cm x 8.2cm x 0.4cm.

'JOSHU JU' (Hitachi Province) right side, 'SAOTOME IESADA' left side

"This tsuba is contained in a box having a hako-gaki as follows: TSUBA, SIGNATURE, JOSHU JU SAOTOME IESADA, IRON PLATE, KIKU BLOOM SHAPE, MEASUREMENTS IN RIN AND BU, A TRUE WORK AS SIGNED, DATE OF SHOWA FOUR (1929), with RED SEAL AND SIGNATURE, SODO, and KAO, of a pre Edo period work. The Sodo name is very rare and seems to be one of the earliest art names used by Dr. Torigoye." (Haynes)

"This tsuba was a gift to Robert Haynes from Dr. Torigoye about fifty years ago." (Long)